Sand control screen assembly and treatment method using the same

Abstract

A sand control screen assembly ( 200 ) positionable within a production interval of a wellbore that traverses a subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formation comprises a base pipe ( 202 ) having openings ( 204 ) in a sidewall section thereof that allow fluid flow therethrough. A filter medium ( 210 ) is positioned about the exterior of at least a portion of the base pipe ( 202 ). The filter medium ( 210 ) selectively allows fluid flow therethrough but prevents the flow of particulate of a predetermined size therethrough. A seal member ( 218, 220, 222 ) is operably associated with the base pipe ( 202 ). The seal member ( 218, 220, 222 ) has a one-way valve configuration and a valve open configuration such that the seal member ( 218, 220, 222 ) controls fluid flow through the openings ( 204 ) of the base pipe ( 202 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A sand control screen assembly positionable within a production interval comprising:
 a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow therethrough;  
 a filter medium positioned about the exterior of at least a portion of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough; and  
 a seal member operably associated with the base pipe that controls fluid flow through the opening of the base pipe, the seal member having a one-way valve configuration and a valve open configuration.  
 
     
     
       2. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the seal member in the one-way valve configuration prevents fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and allows fluid flow from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly when the differential pressure between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       3. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the seal member in the valve open configuration allows fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       4. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the seal member further comprises a spring retainer, a biasing member and a shuttle valve. 
     
     
       5. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein the spring retainer is in a first position relative to the base pipe when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration such that the biasing member urges the shuttle valve into a sealing position. 
     
     
       6. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein the spring retainer is in a second position relative to the base pipe when the seal member is in the valve open configuration such that the biasing member does not urge the shuttle valve into the sealing position. 
     
     
       7. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the spring retainer is releasably secured to the base pipe with at least one shear pin when the spring retainer is in the first position. 
     
     
       8. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the spring retainer is operated from the first position to the second position by the application of a tubing pressure within the base pipe. 
     
     
       9. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein the spring retainer is secured to the base pipe with at least one collet finger when the spring retainer is in the second position. 
     
     
       10. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein the shuttle valve has a sealing position and a non sealing position when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration. 
     
     
       11. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein the shuttle valve has a disabled position when the seal member is in the valve open configuration. 
     
     
       12. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the shuttle valve is secured to the base pipe with a keeper ring when the shuttle valve is in the disabled position. 
     
     
       13. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position in response to a differential pressure above a predetermined threshold between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       14. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position by mechanically shifting the shuttle valve relative to the base pipe. 
     
     
       15. A sand control screen assembly positionable within a production interval comprising:
 a base pipe having at least one opening that allows fluid flow therethrough;  
 a filter medium positioned about the exterior of at least a portion of the base pipe, the filter medium selectively allowing fluid flow therethrough and preventing particulate flow of a predetermined size therethrough; and  
 a seal member operably associated with the base pipe that controls fluid flow through the opening of the base pipe, the seal member having a one-way valve configuration and a valve open configuration, in the one-way valve configuration, the seal member preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and allows fluid flow from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly when the differential pressure between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly exceeds a predetermined threshold, in the valve open configuration, the seal member allowing fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly.  
 
     
     
       16. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein the seal member further comprises a spring retainer, a biasing member and a shuttle valve. 
     
     
       17. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 16  wherein the spring retainer is in a first position relative to the base pipe when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration such that the biasing member urges the shuttle valve into a sealing position. 
     
     
       18. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 17  wherein the spring retainer is in a second position relative to the base pipe when the seal member is in the valve open configuration such that the biasing member does not urge the shuttle valve into the sealing position. 
     
     
       19. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein the spring retainer is releasably secured to the base pipe with at least one shear pin when the spring retainer is in the first position. 
     
     
       20. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein the spring retainer is operated from the first position to the second position by the application of a tubing pressure within the base pipe. 
     
     
       21. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein the spring retainer is secured to the base pipe with at least one collet finger when the spring retainer is in the second position. 
     
     
       22. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 16  wherein the shuttle valve has a sealing position and a non sealing position when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration. 
     
     
       23. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 22  wherein the shuttle valve has a disabled position when the seal member is in the valve open configuration. 
     
     
       24. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein the shuttle valve is secured to the base pipe with a keeper ring when the shuttle valve is in the disabled position. 
     
     
       25. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position in response to a differential pressure above a predetermined threshold between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       26. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position by mechanically shifting the shuttle valve relative to the base pipe. 
     
     
       27. A sand control screen assembly comprising:
 a tubular member having at least one fluid passageway in a sidewall section thereof;  
 a filter medium positioned exteriorly around the tubular member defining a first annular region with the tubular member;  
 a housing positioned exteriorly around the tubular member defining a second annular region with the tubular member; and  
 a seal member positioned within the second annulus, the seal member having a one-way valve configuration and a valve open configuration, the seal member including a spring retainer, a biasing member and a shuttle valve, the spring retainer having a first position relative to the tubular member when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration such that the biasing member urges the shuttle valve into a sealing position, the spring retainer having a second position relative to the tubular member when the seal member is in the valve open configuration such that the biasing member does not urge the shuttle valve into the sealing position.  
 
     
     
       28. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein the seal member in the one-way valve configuration prevents fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and allows fluid flow from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly when the differential pressure between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       29. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein the seal member in the valve open configuration allows fluid flow from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and from the exterior to the interior of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       30. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein the spring retainer is releasably secured to the base pipe with at least one shear pin when the spring retainer is in the first position. 
     
     
       31. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein the spring retainer is operated from the first position to the second position by the application of a tubing pressure within the base pipe. 
     
     
       32. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein the spring retainer is secured to the base pipe with at least one collet finger when the spring retainer is in the second position. 
     
     
       33. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein the shuttle valve has a sealing position and a non sealing position when the seal member is in the one-way valve configuration. 
     
     
       34. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 33  wherein the shuttle valve has a disabled position when the seal member is in the valve open configuration. 
     
     
       35. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 34  wherein the shuttle valve is secured to the base pipe with a keeper ring when the shuttle valve is in the disabled position. 
     
     
       36. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 34  wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position in response to a differential pressure above a predetermined threshold between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       37. The sand control screen assembly as recited in  claim 34  wherein the shuttle valve is operated to the disabled position by mechanically shifting the shuttle valve relative to the base pipe. 
     
     
       38. A downhole treatment method comprising the steps of:
 locating a sand control screen assembly within a production interval of a wellbore;  
 pumping a treatment fluid into the production interval;  
 allowing fluid returns to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly with a seal member of the sand control screen assembly in a one-way valve configuration;  
 preventing fluid loss from the interior to the exterior of the sand control screen assembly with the seal member of the sand control screen assembly in the one-way valve configuration;  
 operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to a valve open configuration; and  
 allowing production fluids to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly.  
 
     
     
       39. The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of allowing fluid returns to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly when a seal member of the sand control screen assembly is in a one-way valve configuration further comprises operating a shuttle valve from a sealing position to a non sealing position when the differential pressure between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       40. The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of allowing fluid returns to enter the interior of the sand control screen assembly when a seal member of the sand control screen assembly is in a one-way valve configuration further comprises overcoming the bias force of a biasing member. 
     
     
       41. The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to a valve open configuration further comprises applying a tubing pressure above a predetermined threshold within a base pipe of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       42. The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to a valve open configuration further comprises shifting a spring retainer from a first position relative to a base pipe of the sand control screen assembly to a second position relative to the base pipe. 
     
     
       43. The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the step of operating the seal member from the one-way valve configuration to a valve open configuration further comprises operating a shuttle valve to a disabled position. 
     
     
       44. The method as recited in  claim 43  wherein the step of operating a shuttle valve to a disabled position further comprises applying a differential pressure above a predetermined threshold between the exterior and the interior of the sand control screen assembly. 
     
     
       45. The method as recited in  claim 43  wherein the step of operating a shuttle valve to a disabled position further comprises mechanically shifting the shuttle valve relative to a base pipe of the sand control screen assembly.